Henry IV

Keeping the Crown

Richard and Lancastrian Inheritance

• 1397 Scheme to overturn restoration of the inheritance which had been taken away by Edward II– Mowbray informs Henry/Henry complains to

Richard– Their differences to be settled by dual– Richard changes this to exile

• 1399 John of Gaunt dies– Exile of Henry made permanent

LancasterThe Duchy Today

Henry IV – Stated Aims

• Restoration of Lancaster• Appointment as steward • Punishment of councilors who advocated

removal of LancasterSources: 1403 and later

Justifications

• Vacancy• Descent• Conquest and will of the people

Vacancy

• Voluntary abdication• Deposition approved by Commons and Lords

– Richard had stated “the laws of England were in his mouth or breast”

Crouchback Justification

Primogeniture

Rules of Succession

• Salic law• 1290 Edward I – Primogeniture• 1337 Edward III claim to France through his mother• 1351 Statute 'the law of the crown of England, is,

and always hath been such, that the children of the kings of England, in whatsover parts they be born, in England or elsewhere, be able and ought to bear the inheritance after the death of their ancestors'

• 1376/7 Edward III – Entail male

Criticisms of Henry IV

• Not hard enough on his opponents• Too generous with his adherents• Since his accession “there have not been

seven days good and seasonable weather”

Richard II Lives

• Source of first opposition• Murder (presumed) and burial• Rumor persists• Scotland supports a ‘Richard’ until 1419

The Marches

The Marches - Scotland

1399 Henry Percy (Northumberland appointed Warden of West March; Constable of EnglandRobert III addresses Henry IV as Duke of Lancaster1400 Henry IV invades Scotland– 1,771 men-at-arms and 11,314 archers

Scotland

• 1402 Battle of Homildon Hill (Douglas vs. Percies)– Henry IV refuses to allow ransom of prisoners

• 1406 Capture of heir to throne, James– Pawn against Duke of Albany, regent of Scotland– Held to 1424

1405 Rebellion

• Border shires given tax reductions because of damage caused by Glyn Dŵr’s rebellion

• Increased tax on northern clerics

Preparing for Henry V

• The Beaufort family had been legitimated by an Act of Parliament during King Richard II's reign.

• 1406, Beaufort family debarred from succession to the Throne.

• Succession given to Henry IV’s sons in order (assuming Henry IV is the rightful king)

• Act of Settlement of 1404 was amended to allow claims to the Throne by descent through the female line???

Percy rebellion

• Delay in payments for Percy defenses of the West Marches– Cash formed 32 per cent of the total of all

revenues– ‘bad tallies’ were 37 per cent of the total of

assignments. (standard story)• Welsh policy

1405 Scrope RebellionManifesto

• Burdensome taxation on both the laity and Church

• Replaced experienced officials with new men who performed poorly or corruptly

• Subverted the process for selection of members of Parliament.

Henry IV’s Taxes

1400 none1401 Tax for Wales campaign; debts from Scotland campaign1402 Forced loans1404 New tax on income

1404 Unlearned Parliament; the Lawless Parliament; Parliament of Dunces

"No Sheriff to be returned, nor any apprentice or other person at law”

Supplement on very wealthyTax on lands given by both Richard and HenrySuggested ways for Henry’s household to cut expenses

Appointments

71% of sheriffs were either retainers of the king or retainers or tenants of the duchy of Lancaster.86% of the sheriffs had no prior experienceDrop in revenues attributed to inefficiency in collection